The Grapes

The right wine-grape variety for your area is the one that ripens well in your area. - From Vines to Wines

There are grapes specifically for wine, called vitis vinifera. Most of us are familiar with the European strains: chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, etc. There are others, such as malbec, sangiovese, nero d'avola, etc. that have gained popularity recently. In Japan, the Koshu grape is a vitis vinifera, which only is used to make white wines. I am hoping there is one for reds that can ripen well here.

Apparently you can make wine from grape juice / concentrate, but I think we'll pass on that for now. Also, apparently non-vitis vinifera grapes generally make mediocre wines, although hybrids have been created that have done well.

Picture: Katsunuma winery